Letters for Tuesday, December 29, 2013

Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 7:16 p.m.

In Palm Coast, jobs No. 1 issue

After reading Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts' messages in the December/January Palm Coaster, I have to wonder what he was thinking when he was inspired to write about such drivel as "diversity." Diversity will not create jobs or improve the economic development of the city. The mayor and the city officials should be comprehensively engaged in creating jobs and enforcing the quality of life for the city's residents.

- Flagler County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, usually between 11 and 12 percent. Every problem or issue facing the city has a direct impact on jobs in some way. Here is a small sample of those issues and their impact:

- The Panera Bread debacle will result in lost construction and service jobs.

- The utility department is busy setting us up for new, higher rates for water and sewer. The rate is already exorbitant — for those who use no water or sewer for the month, the bill is about $52 just to cover the basic fees (including solid waste). At a recent public meeting, residents emphatically said no to a rate hike. (The mayor says he is concerned about population growth. I submit that population growth will not be a problem if people leave due to lack of jobs.) A rate hike is not a good idea in this economy.

- The housing market is a disaster, festering with abandoned homes, record foreclosures and paltry new housing.

The mayor says the lost construction projects are the fault of contractors. Really? What about the loss of jobs? High school and college graduates are leaving the city to find work in other cities. What are the incentives offered by the city to technology and service companies to settle here and provide good jobs for those young people?

We desperately need government that can think out of the box and reject the notion of raising taxes and fees as the only solution to fiscal shortfalls and poor planning.

GERALD ST. GEORGE

Palm Coast

A local hero for mental health

Thank you for printing the guest column by Dotti Lewis, "Work together on mental health."

Dotti and the caring professionals she acknowledged have done wonders in this community to recognize and deal with this important issue. And Dotti has done so without compensation or self-promotion.

She goes down as a real hero in my book.

DICK GRAHAM

Ormond Beach

Stop driveway clutter

While walking my neighborhood, I see many of those "free" publications — anywhere from two to 20 — piled up in driveways.

Come on, homeowners! Edgewater has a recycling program.

And to the carriers, when you see them piling up, aren't you supposed to stop delivering?

Let's all be responsible for keeping our neighborhood clean.

SANDI NOEL

Edgewater

Why are commercials still LOUD?

What happened to the new law that went into effect in December, which established a norm for the decibel volumes that advertisers can use during TV programs? The News-Journal even published the phone number that viewers could use to report violations of the volume control. Did you hear any decrease in the sound for TV ads since the announcement in December? I didn't!

Also, there has been no information describing what happens when you call the telephone number listed, nor how the report is handled. Who monitors the call? What is the penalty for those advertisers who do not comply with the regulation?

This seems to be another example of a regulation that is passed but not enforced. However, everyone who has a TV also has the accessory that makes TV less frustrating and that is the mute button on the remote.

DOROTHY HYLAND

Holly Hill

Editor's note: On its website (www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/loud-commercials) the Federal Communications Commission says it is using complaints filed under the new "CALM law" to "identify patterns or trends of noncompliance for a particular station, pay TV provider or commercial," but does not promise action on any individual complaint.

Control cellular assault weapons

I have been reading all about assault weapons and gun control in our country. I would like to see cellphones and text messaging listed as assault weapons. More people have surely been killed by drivers texting and talking while driving than by assault weapons in this country.

Drivers should be tested to see if they are sane or insane, because any person who texts or talks on a cellphone while driving has to be totally insane!

STANLEY WOLAK

Palm Coast

A different view of speech

I was taken aback after reading the "Our View" Jan. 22. This opinion, representing your paper, was negative, biased, misinformed, and in no way represented the theme of this well-composed, upbeat, passionate speech written for and about "we the people."

The writer was obviously expressing a biased partisan viewpoint, which is his prerogative, but never should it have been presented as "our opinion" when representing such a largely circulated local newspaper. It really left me with a poor opinion of your paper.

My suggestion is to require that the writer re-listen to this inaugural speech and reformulate his opinion. By the way, this was not a state of the union address and has been praised as possibly one of the greatest inaugural speeches ever written by many reputable publications and journalists!

STEPHANIE CONTRADA

Palm Coast

History, not politics

After reading the "Our View" editorial on Jan. 22, I had to wonder, whatever has happened to great journalism? I believe the answer may be an unapproachable mindset. Could not this newspaper, just one time, have looked at the inauguration as a historic event and leave the political rhetoric for another day?

<p class="bold allcaps">In Palm Coast, jobs No. 1 issue</p>
<p>After reading Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts' messages in the December/January Palm Coaster, I have to wonder what he was thinking when he was inspired to write about such drivel as "diversity." Diversity will not create jobs or improve the economic development of the city. The mayor and the city officials should be comprehensively engaged in creating jobs and enforcing the quality of life for the city's residents.</p><p><b>- </b>Flagler County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, usually between 11 and 12 percent. Every problem or issue facing the city has a direct impact on jobs in some way. Here is a small sample of those issues and their impact:</p><p><b>- </b>The Panera Bread debacle will result in lost construction and service jobs.</p><p><b>- </b>The utility department is busy setting us up for new, higher rates for water and sewer. The rate is already exorbitant &mdash; for those who use no water or sewer for the month, the bill is about $52 just to cover the basic fees (including solid waste). At a recent public meeting, residents emphatically said no to a rate hike. (The mayor says he is concerned about population growth. I submit that population growth will not be a problem if people leave due to lack of jobs.) A rate hike is not a good idea in this economy.</p><p><b>- </b>The housing market is a disaster, festering with abandoned homes, record foreclosures and paltry new housing. </p><p>The mayor says the lost construction projects are the fault of contractors. Really? What about the loss of jobs? High school and college graduates are leaving the city to find work in other cities. What are the incentives offered by the city to technology and service companies to settle here and provide good jobs for those young people? </p><p>We desperately need government that can think out of the box and reject the notion of raising taxes and fees as the only solution to fiscal shortfalls and poor planning.</p><p><b>GERALD ST. GEORGE</p><p>Palm Coast</b></p><h3>A local hero for mental health</h3>
<p>Thank you for printing the guest column by Dotti Lewis, "Work together on mental health." </p><p>Dotti and the caring professionals she acknowledged have done wonders in this community to recognize and deal with this important issue. And Dotti has done so without compensation or self-promotion. </p><p>She goes down as a real hero in my book.</p><p><b>DICK GRAHAM</p><p>Ormond Beach</b></p><h3>Stop driveway clutter</h3>
<p>While walking my neighborhood, I see many of those "free" publications &mdash; anywhere from two to 20 &mdash; piled up in driveways. </p><p>Come on, homeowners! Edgewater has a recycling program. </p><p>And to the carriers, when you see them piling up, aren't you supposed to stop delivering? </p><p>Let's all be responsible for keeping our neighborhood clean.</p><p><b>SANDI NOEL</p><p>Edgewater</b></p><h3>Why are commercials still LOUD?</h3>
<p>What happened to the new law that went into effect in December, which established a norm for the decibel volumes that advertisers can use during TV programs? The News-Journal even published the phone number that viewers could use to report violations of the volume control. Did you hear any decrease in the sound for TV ads since the announcement in December? I didn't! </p><p>Also, there has been no information describing what happens when you call the telephone number listed, nor how the report is handled. Who monitors the call? What is the penalty for those advertisers who do not comply with the regulation? </p><p>This seems to be another example of a regulation that is passed but not enforced. However, everyone who has a TV also has the accessory that makes TV less frustrating and that is the mute button on the remote.</p><p> </p><p><b>DOROTHY HYLAND</p><p>Holly Hill</b></p><p><i>Editor's note: On its website (www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/loud-commercials) the Federal Communications Commission says it is using complaints filed under the new "CALM law" to "identify patterns or trends of noncompliance for a particular station, pay TV provider or commercial," but does not promise action on any individual complaint.</i></p><h3>Control cellular assault weapons</h3>
<p>I have been reading all about assault weapons and gun control in our country. I would like to see cellphones and text messaging listed as assault weapons. More people have surely been killed by drivers texting and talking while driving than by assault weapons in this country. </p><p>Drivers should be tested to see if they are sane or insane, because any person who texts or talks on a cellphone while driving has to be totally insane!</p><p><b>STANLEY WOLAK</p><p>Palm Coast</b></p><h3>A different view of speech</h3>
<p>I was taken aback after reading the "Our View" Jan. 22. This opinion, representing your paper, was negative, biased, misinformed, and in no way represented the theme of this well-composed, upbeat, passionate speech written for and about "we the people." </p><p>The writer was obviously expressing a biased partisan viewpoint, which is his prerogative, but never should it have been presented as "our opinion" when representing such a largely circulated local newspaper. It really left me with a poor opinion of your paper. </p><p>My suggestion is to require that the writer re-listen to this inaugural speech and reformulate his opinion. By the way, this was not a state of the union address and has been praised as possibly one of the greatest inaugural speeches ever written by many reputable publications and journalists!</p><p><b>STEPHANIE CONTRADA</p><p>Palm Coast</b></p><h3>History, not politics</h3>
<p>After reading the "Our View" editorial on Jan. 22, I had to wonder, whatever has happened to great journalism? I believe the answer may be an unapproachable mindset. Could not this newspaper, just one time, have looked at the inauguration as a historic event and leave the political rhetoric for another day?</p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p><b>ELIZABETH BARTHOLOMEW</p><p>Port Orange</b></p>